A round up of people locked up at Teesside Crown Court

Here The Northern Echo rounds up the cases of some of the most serious offenders to face justice in September.

Murdering sister

A woman stabbed her sister to death after their feud spiralled out of control following months of aggravation between family members.

Marie Metcalfe, who is one of 15 siblings, had been in a long-running conflict with several members of her large family including her elder sister Laura.

Laura, 44, had lived in Scotland for almost 20 years before returning to Hartlepool with her three children to live close to her family following a breakdown of her relationship.

The 41-year-old defendant had accused Laura and two other sisters of assaulting her in July last year but the case was finally dropped at the beginning of this year.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the defendant had a history of violent behaviour including smashing a glass in a woman's face in a pub and hitting a man over the head with a hammer during an argument in the street.

Marie Metcalfe (Image: Cleveland Police)

Metcalfe, of Brougham Terrace, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to murder on the day her trial was due to start.

Judge Howard Crowson sentenced Metcalfe to life imprisonment and told her she would serve at least 18 years in custody before being eligible for parole.

He said: "It is not entirely clear for how long you were in possession of the knife, it was not a small knife and you must have had it before you went to the shop.

"You had carried it through local streets and into the shop before the confrontation with Laura, you did carry it to the scene of this murder.

"You have a history of violence using weapons, including striking a woman to the head with a glass and striking a man to a hammer to the head."

Rapist brothers

A pair of brothers who systematically raped and abused a vulnerable woman have been locked up after their sickening behaviour was exposed.

Maurice and John Ronald Edwards separately abused their victim and were branded predatory after a judge heard how their assaults had a horrific impact on the woman.

Younger brother John was the first to rape the victim, who was a child when the abuse started, and continued to sexually abuse her on a regular basis for about four years.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the-now 64-year-old was only a young man himself when the sickening abuse started.

Elder brother Maurice started sexually abusing the same woman after he got her drunk and raped her while she was unconscious.

Judge Jonathan Carroll branded the pair manipulative as he jailed them following a two-week trial.

The court heard how the victim was now unable to leave her own house due to the significant impact the abuse had on her and how she had tried several times to take her own life.

John Edwards, 64, of May Street, Hartlepool, was convicted of two counts of gross indecency and two counts of rape.

John Edwards (Image: Cleveland Police)

Maurice Edwards, 74, of Tithe Barn Road, Stockton, was found guilty of rape and indecent assault after pleading guilty to two other sexual offences on the same victim.

Maurice Edwards was sentenced to a total of 27 years and six months for all offences while his younger brother, John, was sentenced for18 years with a one-year extended licence period.

Foot imprint

A man left a foot imprint on his victim’s face following a violent assault after he claimed his dog had told him that the man had hurt one of his other pets.

Paul Guy reacted angrily after his victim lost his dog and launched the brutal attacks days later when he dragged the man to the ground before stamping on his head and neck.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the victim managed to escape and fled to his mother’s house before heading to hospital for treatment to his injuries.

The 43-year-old then used a friend to contact his victim where he made a number of threats before demanding that he withdraws the allegation.

Mr Abrahams said that the defendant was carrying a lock knife when the police arrested him following the attack but he contacted his victim several weeks later and made a series of threats.

The court heard how the attack happened on May 9 this year in Darlington and the witness intimidation took place on June 12.

Paul Guy (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Guy, of Dickinson Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possession of a knife, and witness intimidation.

Judge Howard Crowson praised the defendant for taking steps to address his alcohol and drug problems before sentencing him to a total of 51 weeks in prison.

He added: “All of this behaviour was out of character for you, the most important factor at the time was that you were using drugs and alcohol to deal with problems in your life.

“This caused you to behave differently from how you would usually behave."

Cruel burglar

A burglar who left an autistic youngster devastated when he broke into his home and stole some of the boy's computer games as well as cash and groceries has been locked up.

Nathan McManus forced his way into the family home on Norton Road, Stockton, in the early hours of August 4 this year before stealing the games, bacon, cheese, washing up liquid, and two bags.

Teesside Crown Court heard how one of the bags contained the victim’s purse with £140 in cash and her driving licence inside.

Cainan Lonsdale, prosecuting, said McManus was traced after a tattoo shop worker recovered the stolen bags and returned them to the woman before police were able to retrace the defendant’s steps with CCTV footage.

Nathan McManus (Image: Cleveland Police)

McManus, of Corfe Crescent, Billingham, pleaded guilty to burglary when he appeared at magistrates’ court.

Paul Green, mitigating, said his client had struggled with mental health problems and urged the judge to spare the 26-year-old from immediate custody.

Recorder Ayesha Smart told the defendant that custody was inevitable as he had failed to work with the probation service during previous sentences.

“You have a horrific record for someone who is only 26,” she said. “I accept that you indicated your guilty plea at the lower court and will give you full credit for that.”

McManus was jailed for two years.

Sexual assault

A drunken thug who sexually assaulted a woman after he grabbed her by the throat has been jailed for his brutal attack.

Kevin Peart left his victim with a black eye after punching her in the face before digging his nails into her breast and genitals during a prolonged assault.

The 48-year-old apologised for his behaviour but a neighbour later called the police after watching her own CCTV footage after she was awoken by the banging and shouting, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The court heard that the defendant then grabbed his victim’s breast while digging his nails in as though ‘he was trying to rip her skin off’. He then grabbed her genitals in exactly the same way.

Kevin Peart (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Peart, of West Moor Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault, one charge of intentional strangulation, and a further charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, following the attack last year.

Dr Christopher Wood, mitigating, said his client had a longstanding history of alcohol abuse but accepted that was not an acceptable reason for the offending.

Judge Christopher Smith locked the defendant up for a total of 45 months for all of the offences after hearing of the impact of the victim being sexually and physically assaulted.

Peart was also ordered to sign on the sex offenders’ register until further order.

Serial shoplifter

A serial offender who terrorised shop staff during a campaign of thefts and robbery has had his crime spree brought to a halt with his imprisonment.

Michael Winner used his physical presence to intimidate staff and if that didn’t work, he would threaten to batter them with the bottles of booze he had just ‘brazenly’ stolen.

The 37-year-old, who has a lengthy record for dishonesty and violence, was not averse to telling shop workers exactly what he intended to do before helping himself to food and alcohol.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Winner carried out six shop thefts in Redcar, over a week-long campaign of criminal activity, just days being given a community order for another raft of shop thefts.

Paul Cleasby, prosecuting, said the defendant’s crime spree took on a more serious element when he walked into a shop on Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, and threatened staff with a knife before stealing booze and vapes.

He said the serial shoplifter intimidated staff in Farm Foods, Morrisons, and Tesco, in Redcar before stealing bottles of spirits and jars of coffee, on March 16.

Three days later he returned to Tesco and again stole booze before continuing his spree on March 21 when he again targeted Morrisons and Farm Foods.

Michael Winner (Image: The Northern Echo)

Winner, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to robbery, possession of a bladed article, six shop thefts, and three threatening behaviour charges, between March 16 and April 4, this year.

John Nixon, mitigating, said his client had a longstanding drug addiction which was behind his offending and was anticipating a lengthy custodial sentence.

Judge Howard Crowson locked the career criminal up for a total of four years and six months for his latest spree of offences.

“This was a campaign of perpetual thefts you carried out on shops in Redcar. Your substantial build must have been intimidating,” he said.

Teenage blackmailer

A teenager who helped target a vulnerable pensioner and threatened her with the police if she didn’t settle a fictitious window cleaning bill has been locked up.

Alan Pearson was just 16 when the pensioner was ripped off to the tune of £170 when she paid the cash after she became intimidated by the teenager and an unknown older accomplice.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the pair spotted the pensioner walking with a frame before following her home and conning their way into her flat.

Initially, they demanded £70 for washing her windows at her previous home before increasing the demand to £170 which she paid to get them out of her home.

Emma Atkinson, prosecuting, said the pensioner asked for a receipt which the older man was unable to write before Pearson stepped in and wrote it out.

The court heard how the pair left before returning and telling their victim had made a mistake before offering her the money back but she refused to let them back into her flat.

In a victim personal statement, the pensioner said being blackmailed by the pair had resulted in her moving in with her son as she was too traumatised to return home.

Alan Pearson (Image: Cleveland Police)

Pearson, of Dalton Avenue, St Helens, Bishop Auckland, pleaded guilty to blackmail following the incident on November 11, 2021.

Judge Howard Crowson told the teenager that custody was inevitable after they targeted a vulnerable Stockton pensioner and locked him up for 15 months.

He said: “You saw and approached her as she walked home, there was no need to approach as neither of you knew her and you claimed to know her and you were the window cleaner and she owed you money.

"She owed you nothing, clearly she was targeted because of her obvious frailty. She was preyed up when you followed her home and your accomplice threatened her with the police."

Homeless attacker

A homeless man who stabbed his victim through the arm after he reacted angrily to his niece bringing him some booze and cigarettes has been locked up.

Craig Roberts was sleeping in a tent on wasteland near Middlesbrough Police when he launched the unprovoked attack on the man.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 48-year-old plunged the blade completely through the forearm of his victim as he raised his arm to protect himself.

Tabitha Buck, prosecuting, said the victim bumped into the defendant’s niece after leaving the Mint nightclub in Middlesbrough town centre before walking the short distance to where Roberts was sleeping rough.

Craig Roberts (Image: Cleveland Police)

Roberts, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article following the stabbing on April 4 this year.

The judge heard how the defendant had 18 convictions for 28 offences, including ones for violence.

Brian Russell, mitigating, said his client is hoping to get to the bottom of why he reacts in such an irrational and violent way to certain situations.

He added: “Clearly, he is a man who needs to change the way he reacts to incidents such when there wasn’t a great deal of provocation.”

Judge Timothy Stead sentenced Roberts to four years in custody with a three-year extension for the unprovoked attack due his history of impulsive violent behaviour.

Wheelchair-using burglar

A wheelchair-using burglar and thief has succeeded in getting himself locked up with a desire to get himself clear off drugs.

David Lawrence went on a short crime spree around Middlesbrough town centre targeting a parked car, a mosque, and a hotel, to steal laptops, rucksacks, and vehicle documents.

The 47-year-old’s first offence took place on February 24 when he smashed a window of a Ford Fiesta parked in Wood Street car park and stole the registration documents for the car and causing £170 worth of damage.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Lawrence then stole two laptops and a rucksack after wheeling himself into a mosque on Southfield Road, Middlesbrough, on February 28 while worshippers were called to prayer.

The court heard how Lawrence then burgled the Leonardo hotel on Fry Street, in Middlesbrough, and helped himself to a backpack before the man was spotted by a member of staff.

David Lawrence (Image: Newsquest)

Lawrence, whose address was given as HMP Durham, pleaded guilty to burglary and two counts of theft.

Tabitha Buck, mitigating, said her client had his leg amputated after seriously injuring himself in a motorbike accident and had lost his job as a personal trainer.

She added: “He wanted to be arrested, he wanted to get himself back into the system and he finds himself now with significantly better clarity in his life.”

Recorder Robert Ward jailed the defendant for a total of 21 months for all offences.

Spurned lover

A spurned lover who stalked his ex-partner and threatened to post sexual pictures of her online and posing as a police officer has been locked up.

Ross Lynch also bombarded his victim with vile and abusive voice messages making threats to her young child and its father, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The 31-year-old started his campaign of terror after his victim ended their two-year relationship while she was pregnant with their child.

Lynch would turn up at her house and refuse to leave as well as threatening the victim throughout December last year culminating with the threat to post intimate pictures and videos on Facebook on Boxing Day.

Ross Lynch (Image: Cleveland Police)

Lynch, of Clough Close, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to stalking between December 2, 2022, and April 2, this year, threatening to disclose private sexual images and sending malicious communications.

Michele Turner, mitigating, said: “He accepts that these offences clearly pass the custodial threshold and the only question is whether that sentence can be suspended. He has been on remand since April.”

The court heard the couple lost their child earlier this year.

Recorder Robert Ward sentenced Lynch to a total of two years and eight months for all offences.

Lynch was made subject to an indefinite restraining order to protect his victim.

Predatory rapist

Justice has caught up with a bullying sexual predator after his victim came forward two decades after she was repeatedly abused.

Michael Woods destroyed his victim’s life but she was praised by a judge for her courage in coming forward and the efforts she has made to rebuild her shattered self-belief.

Judge Jonathan Carroll branded the 41-year-old a danger to women as he passed a 26-year sentence to the smirking sexual deviant.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Woods embarked on a campaign of sexual violence towards his victim.

Michael Woods (Image: Newsquest)

Woods, formerly of Newcastle, was found guilty of three counts of rape against the Darlington teenager following a trial at the same court. The defendant pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to comply with the requirements of the sex offenders’ register.

Jurors heard how the defendant subjected his victim to degrading sexual assaults as he asserted his dominance with his predatory behaviour.

Judge Carroll slammed Woods for the contempt he showed to his victim during the hearing when he placed his feet on the table and smirked while his offending was outlined to him.

Sentencing the pervert to an extended sentence of 26 years, the Judge added: “You were then 18 and from your conduct towards her, you were already establishing a sexually obsessed and predatory character.

“Almost from the beginning your relationship was defined by your controlling and coercive personality. You were sexually aggressive, abusive, and entitled.”

'Armed' robbers

Two armed robbers who hurled racist abuse at a shopkeeper as they threatened staff and customers with a knife and an imitation handgun have been locked up.

Lewis Callaghan and Stephen Mark stormed into the convenience store with their hoods up and masks over their faces alongside their accomplice Aaron Stubley before they stole cash, cigarettes, and scratch cards.

Police were able to trace the defendants’ movements from CCTV cameras and soon raided the nearby home of 40-year-old Mark where they recovered a knife and all of the stolen goods.

Teesside Crown Court watched CCTV footage showing Callaghan holding what appeared to be handgun to intimidate staff and customers before knocking one woman out when he pushed her to the floor.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, told the court how Callaghan threatened to ‘blow her head off’ before others could be heard shouting racist abuse.

A judge heard how they gang had stolen £800 in cash, £1,100 worth of cigarettes, and £450 worth of scratch cards. All of which was recovered by police.

Lewis Callaghan (Image: Cleveland Police)

Callaghan, of Birdsall Row, Redcar, was found guilty of robbery, possession of an imitation firearm and assault on the shop customer. He pleaded guilty to assault on an emergency worker and a separate charge connected to an unrelated burglary.

Stephen Mark (Image: Cleveland Police)

Mark, of Ullswater Close, Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a bladed article following the offence on January 15 last year.

Recorder Aisha Wadoodi said: “All of you went in to commit this serious offence of robbery, you all tried to mask your identities with hoods and masks, you Callaghan had an imitation firearm.”

Callaghan was jailed for eight years with an additional three years on extended licence while Mark was locked up for six years and seven months for his role in the robbery.

Child rapist

A child rapist who destroyed his young victim’s life has been branded a dangerous offender after he was given a 22-year sentence.

Gary Taylor abused a young girl on several occasions when he forced his depraved sexual needs on the child while he was living in the Darlington area.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the abuse had left his victim feeling ‘worthless and dirty’ after the pervert was convicted of five counts of rape and one of sexual assault on a child.

Jon Harley, prosecuting, told the judge that the victim wanted to read out her own victim impact statement.

“What he did to me has left me deeply scared and traumatised,” she said. “If I spoke out about what he did to me at the time, I didn’t know what else he would have done to me.

“It was so horrible to come to terms with. I blamed myself at the time and wondered if it was all my fault.

Gary Taylor (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Judge Anthony Brown sentenced Taylor to 18 years in prison with an extended four years on licence to mark the dangerous nature of his offending.

Taylor, of Lilburn Close, Shildon, was made subject of an indefinite restraining order and told he would sign on the sex offenders’ register for the remainder of his life.

The 38-year-old was also made subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Brutal attacker

A violent thug caught on CCTV slamming a women’s head on the ground several times before repeatedly punching her to the face has been locked up.

Sahed Sarkut Mihmud initially chased his on/off partner down the street believing she had stolen some money from his wallet after a two-day booze-fuelled bender before she pushed him several times to the chest.

However, the vicious assault that followed shortly afterwards showed the 40-year-old continue to slam his victim into the ground when she appeared to have been knocked unconscious by several brutal blows to the face.

The judge, sitting at Teesside Crown Court, watched two minutes of CCTV showing the horrific impact of the brutal attack.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said defendant told officers that they had been drinking together for two days before he confronted her in the street.

Sahed Sarkut Mihmud (Image: Cleveland Police)

Mihmud, of Clive Road, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm following the attack on March 23, this year.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said there was an element of provocation but his client accepted it was not a justification for the violence that followed.

Recorder Aisha Wadoodi told the defendant that he had inflicted a ‘horrific assault’ on the woman and jailed him for four years and one month for the brutal attack.

She added: “You slammed her to the ground five times when she was unconscious, you then punched her several more times.

“She is left on the road. I have watched the CCTV footage and it is surprising that she survived this attack.”

Throat slashed

A violent thug who slashed his partner’s throat just weeks after being released from prison for attacking her in the street is back behind bars.

Jason Noble grabbed the kitchen knife and lashed out at his victim when they returned home after he had spent the day drinking and taking cocaine.

His ex-partner was so scared of the 50-year-old that she initially told police it was a different man who had attacked her in their Darlington home.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Noble was arrested after his DNA and flesh from his victim’s neck was recovered from a kitchen knife.

Paul Cleasby, prosecuting, said the man who picked the pair up from the pub had earlier fled the house in his stockinged feet after Noble started to become angry and threatening.

When he returned to check on his friend, he saw that she was holding a towel to her throat to stem the flow of blood and returned to his home to tell his partner before the police were called.

The judge had heard how Noble was jailed for 16 weeks last July after he punched the woman in the face and carried out the knife attack on October 14, just weeks after his release.

Jason Noble (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Noble, of Harry Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent.

Andrew Nixon, mitigating, said his client had slowly recognised the significant impact of his latest offence against his partner after he pleaded guilty.

Judge Paul Watson KC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, branded Noble a dangerous offender as he passed a 15-year sentence – 12 years in custody followed by three years on extended licence.